SNAP at the Community Scale: How Neighborhood Characteristics Affect Participation and Food Access

Cities are spatially diverse, with enclaves of particular demographic groups, clusters of businesses, and pockets of low-income individuals living amid affluence. This essay presents data from New York City to illustrate the importance of measuring and addressing neighborhood characteristics that affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and the purchasing power of SNAP benefits: pockets of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals, proximity between SNAP participants and jobs, and variations in food prices across neighborhoods. It concludes with 5 examples of how addressing these community-scale issues can increase SNAP participation and food access.